INTERVIEW: Morecambe businesses need "clarity" on energy costs after challenging year

Saturday, 3 December 2022 08:25

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Champions of Morecambe town centre have called for help with rising energy costs from the government after a "challenging year" for local businesses.

Ruth Wilkinson, chair of Morecambe Business Improvement District (BID), and John O'Neill, Morecambe BID manager, were speaking to Beyond Radio on Friday about a range of topics.

They said it had been tough for local businesses as they faced rising prices, including with their energy bills.

"We benefitted from a brilliant summer, our footfall from people visiting the area was healthy, we certainly saw that increase," said Ruth.

"But that has been bookended by a completely different outcome which is the energy (price rises) and cost of living has impacted the businesses in the area.

"I think we're still a good visitor destination, quite a low-cost visitor destination.

"But what we have got an issue with, is that some businesses have really fallen on hard times and despite the government promises of support for some of those businesses, we don't seem to have had that come to fruition. We're still really waiting for that.

"It's been a challenge and we've had businesses close because of it."

LISTEN to our interview with Ruth Wilkinson and John O'Neill from Morecambe BID

In the interview, Ruth and John also spoke about plans for Christmas lights in Morecambe and other BID projects, the Eden Project North and the former Frontierland site, the 'Morecambe Sparkle' project, the future of the Arndale centre and the Winter Gardens.

Their comments came after some businesses in Morecambe town centre decided to close in 2022 due to rising costs.

INTERVIEW: Sadness as Morecambe town centre cafe closes down - Beyond Radio

But John also said that "we've seen some great businesses open up" in 2022.

They include in a new "restaurant quarter" at the top of Queen Street of Miaitalia, Don Luca Pizza (pictured below) and The Roast House at the Palatine joining the Brasserie, the Brittlestar and the Black and Thai.

New Italian restaurant opens in Morecambe - Beyond Radio

"We remain optimistic, but we really really do need clarity from central government about energy help," he said.

"This is not helping anyone, the absolute silence coming out of Westminster."

Mr O'Neill (pictured below) visited the Houses of Parliament recently to attend a special gathering of Lancastrians for Lancashire Day.

This was also attended by representatives of the Eden Project North, who plan to build a major eco-attraction on Morecambe Promenade.

Eden has bid for £50m of government 'Levelling Up' funding to help get the project started, and an announcement is expected by the end of the year.

"It was a good chance to talk to the movers and shakers about Eden and how important it is to the local area," said John.

"There remains quite a degree of confidence that we should be in for hopefully a positive announcement this month."

Ruth and John also spoke about other Morecambe BID projects this year which have included:

A new 'Safer Nights' project to provide security guards to patrol Morecambe streets at night, helping vulnerable people who are struggling to get home, and provide back-up to the police, using funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner
Awarding businesses sustainability grants so they can change to lower energy lights and save money
Working alongside artist Shane Johnstone and Morecambe Town Council on a mural on St Laurence's Church on Victoria Street
Installing new stainless steel bike racks so people can tie up their bicycles
Maintaining the planters on the promenade and winning a Morecambe in Bloom award in 2022
Subsidising for some local businesses to have Christmas trees outside their premises
Supporting businesses to get ready for the hoped-for Eden Project North
The annual Christmas lights in the town centre - see our story here

"There is a regular set of work always happening in the background," said Ruth (pictured below), who also runs her own business The Consult Centre in central Morecambe.

"Our plans are to continue to absolutely represent Morecambe at every opportunity and to make sure that we give all the support that we're able to, both financially and in terms of advice and experience, to all of our businesses that sit within our area."

Morecambe BID is a private company that spends money raised from a levy on improvements to a specific area of the town centre.

Each business within the Morecambe BID zone in the town centre, pays 1.5 per cent of their rateable value into a funding pot once a year.

*The government launched an energy relief scheme for businesses in October, aiming to provide discounts to gas and electricity unit prices.

The discount is due to end on March 31 2023 and businesses have called for it to be extended.

When asked if he would extend support for businesses, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt told ITV on Friday:

"What I can do is tell you what we've already said for those businesses, which is a big reduction for many of them in the business rates - a 75 percent reduction in most retail hospitality and leisure businesses and then two and a half billion pound reduction every year as we move to the new system of re-evaluation for business rates.

"We're giving all the help we can, and the reason is because although it's tough now if you look at the forecast by the Office of Budget Responsibility, actually, inflation comes right down towards the end of next year.

"The year after that we start moving into very healthy growth, so a very difficult period because of what is happening in Ukraine and the aftermath of the pandemic but also tremendous potential for the country."

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